Just two days before her scheduled death by lethal injection, a Texas court has halted Melissa Lucio’s execution for the death of her 2-year-old daughter.
Per the Texas Tribune, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted the execution, which was planned for Wednesday. The case has been remanded to the trial court, which means there’s potential for her to get a retrial that could find her innocent in the death of her daughter, Mariah Alvarez. Lucio’s case will now go to a lower court so that her lawyers can present new evidence that they claim proves her innocence.
“I thank God for my life,” said Lucio in a statement. “I have always trusted in Him. I am grateful the Court has given me the chance to live and prove my innocence. Mariah is in my heart today and always. I am grateful to have more days to be a mother to my children and a grandmother to my grandchildren. I will use my time to help bring them to Christ. I am deeply grateful to everyone who prayed for me and spoke out on my behalf.”
In 2008, Lucio was convicted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, who she told police fell down the stairs. Her family, legal team, and other supporters have said she maintained her innocence until armed interrogators coerced her into making a false confession. Her lawyers have suggested that she was given an unfair trial, during which a medical examiner provided allegedly false evidence. The Supreme Court declined to review the case last year, with the Texas attorney general’s office pointing to the autopsy of her daughter. They said the autopsy ruled that Mariah died from “blunt force head trauma.”
Kim Kardashian, who has routinely shared support in protesting Lucio’s execution, celebrated the good news on Twitter. “Best news ever!!!” tweeted Kim on Monday. “Melissa Lucio has been on death row for over 14 years for her daughter’s death that was a tragic accident. She is getting a new trial on her case and has been granted a stay of execution by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.”
Lucio’s son John spoke with TMZ earlier this month to thank Kim for her support. “When I shared with my mother about Kim Kardashian supporting her and advocating for her, she was just shocked and couldn’t believe it,” John said, adding Melissa is “just in awe” and that Kim “being an advocate for her has really lifted her spirits.”
